Centrifugal liquid separator



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

G. A. BACKSTROM.

' GBNTRIFUGAL LIQUID SEPARATGR. No. 355,049. Patented'Deo'. 28, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT o. AXEL EAoKsfrEoM, or TEENTON, AssrGNoE To THE EAoKsrEoM CEN TEIEUGAL sEraEAroE ooMPANY, or oAMnEN, NEw JEEsEY.

CENTRIFUGAL LlQUlD-SEPARATOR.-

SPECIFICATION forming part oi' Letters Patent No. 355.049,dated December 28, 1885.

'Applicutioniilcd July 24, 1886. SerialvNo. 209.035. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, O. AXEL BAcKsfrEoM, a citizen of the .United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Liquid-Separators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

rlhis invention has relation to centrifugal machines which are' employed to separate liquids of different specific gravities, and although hereinafter specified as for use in separating cream from milk, it is understood that my invention is not limited to any particular use of thesame.

Among the objects in view are to construct a machine of the class mentioned upon such a principle and embodying such a mode of operation as shall effectuall y separate a portion of a liquid having the lesser specific gravity from a portion or portions having a greater specific gravity, by giving the machine a minimum speed of rotation, and to preserve the body of liquid from undue agitation during the operation of separating it into its constitnent parts, so far as the specific gravity is concerned, and also to retain the liquid during separation for a longer timewithin the separating-vessel of the machine. Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the following description, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central .vertical section of a centrifugal machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of separating-chamber. Fig. 3 is a section on the line X, Fig. 1.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the g- 4o ures of the drawings.

Certain features of construction mentioned and illustrated herein are not claimed, as they form subject-matter of another application, No. 205,288, filed June 15, 1886, pending herewith. y

A representsaportion of anysuitable framework for the support of the operative parts of the machine.

B represents a spindle passing through a 5o bearing, B, and into the hub C of the lower section or portion of the separating-vessel C.

Said lower portion is connected with the upper portion in this instance by means of a screw-threaded joint, C2; but, if desired, the entire vessel may be formedas a .single casting. The separating-vessel is of a semi-parabolic form, having a depression or neck projecting from its lower surface, from which there are two discharge-outlets, the 0ne,`C3, being for the delivery of cream, and the other, C, oo being for the discharge of milk from the vessel; and these constituent parts of the liquid are received into different compartments, D and D?, respectively, of areceiver, D, mounted on the frame A, and provided with funnels or delivery-pipes D3 D, respectively, communi- I eating with the above-mentioned compartments.

A pipe, E, is arranged within the vessel, t0 extend from the -aperture C" upwardly' along 7o the innerwall of the neck of the vessel and radially toward the inner periphery thereof. F represents a shelf which divides the interior of the separating-vessel into annular compartments.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated-a series of shelves F, whereby the operation is repeated, ashoreinafter described.

Near the inner periphery ofthe separatingvessel there is arranged a discharge-milice, F, passing through the shelf F, and near said orifice a radial partition, G, which crosses the annular spaces of the separating-chamber formed by the shelf. Whenever I employ a series of shelves, then I form eduction-oriices F at each side of the radial partition alternatelythat is to say, in the upper one of a series of shelves I form an orifice, F, at one side of the partition, and in the next lower shelf I forniV such an orifice at an opposite side of the partition, for a purpose hereinafter specified.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the equivalent of one orifice is a supply-pipe, H, leading from a supply-vessel, I, into the annular chamber 95 formed bythe shelf F, said pipe being projected into said chamber at an opposite side of the partition G from that at which the orifice F is located.

rEhe operation of my invention is as follows: Milk is supplied in desired quantity to the chamber I, from whence it emerges into the annular chamber formed by and upon the shelf F. It is understood that the separating-vessel is rotated. The milk upon the shelf F is prevented from flowing in one direction by the partition G, and is compelled to take the direction indicated by the arrow a until it reaches the opposite side of said partition, when it passes through the orifice F into the lower portion of the chamber, as indicated by arrow a', or upon the next shelf F of the series, when more than one shelf is employed, when it is 'again forced to take an opposite direction by the partition, as shown by dotted arrow a, and continuing in this course until it reaches the partition on its opposite side, where the discharge-pipe E is arranged, into which the milk passes, as indicated by dotted arrow as, and from thence into the lower compartment, D, of the receiver.

It is apparent that the delivery of milk and cream at and near the bottom of the separating chamber or bowl during its rotation, and the supply of milk at the upper part of said chamber or bowl, necessarily causes a current or flowing of the liquid through said chamber or bowl. This current is reversed by coming into contact with the imperforate partition projecting above and below the annular shelf, so that by a suitable arrangement of the ports or openings in the shelf the direction of the flow of the liquid is controlled.

By increasing the number of shelves, the operation is repeated as many times as desired ,so that the milk,in passing through the separating-vessel,is retained for asuffioient length of time to effectually separate all the cream therefrom. It iswell understood that the milk,having the greater specific gravity, is by centrifugal force caused to occupy portions of the separating-vessel farther from the center, while the cream,being of lighter specific gravity,oc cupies portions nearer the center, from which position it falls by gravity alone down the neck of the vessel, and is finally discharged into the upper compartment, D', of the receiver. Now, it will be observed that by the action of centrifugal force and of gravity there is in the machine and in each annular compartment thereof an inner annular body of cream and au outer annular body of milk,

so that 'whatever cream may be carried with the milk from an upper to a lower annular compartment ofthe vessel is carried toward the center in said lower compartment, and finally separated from the milk therein. If desired, the inner edge of one or more of the shelves F may be slightly curved or rounded olf, as shown by dotted lines Y, Fig. 2.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is i 1. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingvessel provided with an annular shelf,a radial partition above and below said shelf, an induction-orifice arranged at one side of the upper part of said partition, and an eduction-oriice arranged at the opposite side of the lower part of said partition, substantially as specified.

2. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingchamber having a series of annular shelves and a radial partition intersecting said shelves and extending above and below them, the shelves being imperforate except at alternately opposite sides of the said partition, substantially as specified.

3. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingvessel provided with an annular shelf, having an orice near the inner periphery of the vessel, and having a radial partition adjacent to the orifice and extending above and below the shelf, and a central depressed neck, the latter having discharge-orifices in relatively differ-cnt Vhorizontal planes,and a pipe leading from the lower of said orifices to and beneath the annular shelf, substantially as specified.

4. The combination ofthe separating-chamber, an annular shelf provided with asingle dischargeport or orifice located near its outer edge. a radial partition arranged adjacent to said single discharge port and extending above and below said shelf, and the supply-pipe arranged at a side of said partition opposite that at which said discharge-port is located, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereofI aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. l o. AXEL vBAoKsrr-aoM.

Witnesses:

E. B. SrooKINd, W. S. DUvALL. 

